USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1933 > Part 11
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(b) Stairways. All doorways leading into stairways re- quired to be enclosed shall be fitted with approved self-closing fire doors in metal or metal covered frames. Windows in interior enclosure walls shall be approved fixed fire windows.
Vent Shafts. Openings in vent shafts and shaftways other than stairways or shaftways included in Department of Pub- lic Safety regulations, shall be fitted with approved fire doors or fire windows which are to be automatic if required by the Building Inspector.
(See also Department of Public Safety Regulations).
(c) Elevator, stair and other shaftways, in addition to any requirements of the Department of Public Safety shall be enclosed with the constructions required above as follows :
Hospitals, asylums, nurseries, and detention buildings to have all stairways enclosed.
Libraries, museums, court houses, city halls, fire or police stations, 3 stories or more high, to have at lease one stairway enclosed.
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Buildings having an assembly hall or lodge room, churches, amusement halls, and exhibition buildings to have all base- ment stairs enclosed, and, if such rooms are in the third story or above, shall have one stairway enclosed.
For schoolhouses, college classroom buildings, theatres, moving picture houses, opera houses, and music halls, see De- partment of Public Safety Regulations.
Office buildings, of 4 or 5 stories high, shall have at least one stairway enclosed. If 6 or more stories high shall have all enclosed : provided, however, that they need not be direct to exit and separated from rest of building by first-class con- struction : and provided, further, that independent flights con- necting not more than 2 stories need not be enclosed.
Buildings more than 3 stories high and used above the first floor for the storage or sale of merchandise or for restaurant purposes, shall have all stairways enclosed except independent flights connecting not more than 2 stories.
Manufacturing buildings over 2 stories high shall have all stairways enclosed.
(For public garages, see Department of Public Safety Regu- lations).
Amusement parks, armories, baseball parks, foundries, grandstands, greenhouses, ice houses, light and power plants, mill and other buildings constructed for special industries, and other buildings not classified in this ordinance shall have stair- ways enclosed when required by the Inspector of Buildings.
Vent Shafts and Chutes. Vent shafts and other vertical shaftways or chutes of more than 4 sq. ft. area shall be en- closed if they extend through more than one floor. Shaftways or chutes of 4 sq. ft. or less in area shall be made of, or lined with, incombustible materials if they extend through more than one floor.
(12) Exits, Corridors and Stairs.
(a) In addition to provisions of the Department of Public Safety Regulations, the requirements of this division shall apply to all buildings except dwellings.
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(b) Wherever dimensions of exits are proportioned to the number of occupants, the Inspector of Buildings shall deter- mine the probable number of such occupants.
(c) Number. Every floor above the first shall have at least two exits leading directly or indirectly to street, placed as far apart as practicable and as far as possible arranged so that from every portion of the floor there shall be access to one of two stairways without passing any other. At least one stairway shall continue to the roof, if flat.
Marking. All doors to exits in buildings 2 or more stories in height shall be plainly marked by a sign and by a red light unless specifically accepted by the Inspector of Buildings.
Lighting. All exits shall be adequately lighted by artificial light.
(d) Width. Required stairways except in dwellings, and except when serving less than 150 persons, shall be at least 3 feet 8 inches wide between faces of walls, or 3 ft. 4 in. wide between face of walls and face of balustrade or between faces of two balustrades. If posts project above tops of rails, the required width shall be maintained between the face of the post and the face of the wall or post opposite.
For stores and restaurants, the aggregate width of the stairs leading down from each story above the first shall be 20 in. for each 100 persons or fraction thereof occupying such floors and all the floors above, and the aggregate width of the stairs leading up from each story below the first shall be 20 in. for each 100 persons or fraction thereof occupying such floor and all the floors below.
Construction. All stairs in buildings required to be of first- class construction and all stairways required to be enclosed in buildings of second-class construction shall have all stairs, stair landings, and floors inside the enclosure of metal or masonry, except that hand rails may be of wood. All stairs shall be framed for live loads. Required stairs shall have not more than fifteen nor less than three risers between landings, landings shall be not less than 3 ft. 6 in. wide between risers, the risers shall not exceed 8 in. in height and the treads shall not be less than 9 in. wide, exclusive of nosings. Required stairs
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shall have no winders but the Building Inspector may allow curved runs of large radius. Required stairs over 4 ft. wide shall have hand rails on both sides, and, if over 7 ft. wide, shall have center hand rails, terminating at their upper ends in posts at least 6 ft. high.
(e) An outside metal or reinforced concrete fire-escape, approved as to construction and access, shall be considered equivalent to one of the required exits for all buildings not more than 3 stories high except for stores, restaurants, and manufacturing buildings. A fire-escape may project over a public way.
(f) A horizontal exit leading to another floor area beyond a fire wall or party wall shall be considered equivalent to one of the required exits for such a floor, provided that such other floor area shall be large enough to contain the joint occupancy, allowing 4 sq. ft. per person.
(g) When the total occupancy of a building above the sec- ond floor is more than 500 persons, one of the exits shall be an approved smoke-proof tower with access at each floor by means of outside balcony or open air vestibule.
(h) Corridors. Public exit corridors shall be not less than 3 ft. 8 in. wide, and any corridor serving as an exit for more than 200 persons shall have a width of 20 in. for each 100 persons and fraction thereof so served. Corridors con- necting two flight of stairs in the line of travel of an exit shall be at least as wide as the wider of the two flights.
Doors serving more than 50 persons and opening to public corridors or to enclose stairs shall open toward the stairs. Rooms accomodating more than 50 persons shall have at least two doors leading to exits, each door to be not less than 3 ft. wide, and with an aggregate width of 20 in, for each 100 persons and fraction thereof accomodated. Any fastenings on doors required by this section shall be such as may be easily opened from the inside without the use of keys: pro- vided, however, that this requirement shall not apply to the doors of rooms where persons are held under legal restraint.
(i) Outside and vestibule doors for buildings accomodat- ing more than 100 persons, except one-story stores of less
0
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than 2,000 sq. ft. area, shall swing out or shall be double-swing or revolving doors: provided, however, that this requirement shall not prohibit the use of sliding doors which are in addition to the required exits or sliding doors which may be used for closing buildings after business hours.
CHAPTER XIII. STEEL FRAME CONSTRUCTION STEEL AND IRON
(1) Steel. Steel for all structural work in buildings, ex- cept reinforced concrete work, shall conform to the require- ments of the Standard Specifications of the American Institute of Steel Manufacturers as from time to time revised.
(2) Allowable Stresses. All parts of the structure shal be so proportioned that the sum of the maximum static stresses in pounds per square inch shall not exceed the fol- lowing :
(a) Tension: Rolled steel, on net section 18,000
(b) Compression: Rolled steel, on short lengths or where lateral deflection is prevented 18,000
On Cross sections of columns,
18,000 12
with a maximum of
1+ 18,000r2 13,000
In which "l" is the unsupported length of the column, and "r" is the corresponding least radius of gyration of the sec- tion, both in inches.
For main compression members, the ratio l/r shall not ex- ceed 160, and for bracing and other secondary members, 200.
(c) Bending: On extreme fibres of rolled shapes, and built up sections, net section, if lateral deflection is prevented 18,000
When the unsupported length "l" exceeds 15 times "b", the width of the compression flange, the stress in pounds per square inch in the latter shall not exceed :
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20,000 12
1+ 2,000b2
The laterally unsupported length of beams and girders shall not exceed 40 times "b", the width of the compression flanges. On extreme fibres of pins, when the forces are assumed as acting at the center of gravity of the pieces 27,000
(d) SHEARING :
On pins 13,500
On power-driven rivets 13,500
On turned bolts in reamed holes with a clearance of not more than 1/50 of an inch
13,500
On hand-driven rivets 10,000
On unfinished bolts 10,000
On the gross area of the webs of beams and girders, where h, the heights between flanges in inches, is not more than 60 times t, the thickness of the web in inches 12,000
On the gross area of the webs of beams and girders, if the web is not stiffened where h, the height be- tween flanges in inches, is more than 60 times t, the thickness of the web, the maximum shear per square inch, S/A shall not exceed
18,000 h2
14 7,200t2
In which S is the total shear, and A is gross area of web in square inches.
(e) BEARING :
Double Shear 30,000
Single Shear
On pins
On power-driven rivets
30,000
24,000
On turned bolts in reamed holes
30,000
24,000
On unfinished bolts
20,000
16,000
On hand-driven rivets
20,000
16,000
On expansion rollers per lineal inch, 600
times the diameter of the roller in inches.
24,000
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(3) Combined Stresses. For combined stresses due to wind and other load, the permissible working stress may be increased 20 per cent, provided the section thus found is not less than that required by the dead and live loads alone. This increase is only permissable when there is a combined direct and wind load.
(4) Members Carrying Wind Only. For members carry- ing wind stress only, the permissible working stress may be increased 20 per cent.
(5) Requirements of Design. All structural steel framing shall be designed by a reputable architect or engineer based on the allowable stress set forth in these ordinances and as approved by the Inspector of Buildings.
(6) Steel Joists. May be used in the floor and roof con- struction in the following types of buildings, required under the provisions of the code to be of first-class construction, in accordance with the following provisions; Hotels, lodging houses, club houses, dormitories, tenement houses, dwelling houses, hospitals and schools. Steel joists may also be used in any building to be used for habitation in which wood joists would be permitted under the code.
Steel joists mean joists or carrying members made up of strip or sheet steel or of steel bars securely welded together, in suitable shapes to safely support loads intended to be car- ried, or rolled shapes of light section which are not framed into steel supporting members, but rest on walls, flanges or supporting angles, or are hung by means of stirrups or hang- ers.
When strip or sheet steel is used, it shall in no case be less than .072 of an inch in thickness. When bars are used, they shall in no case be less than one-half inch round.
No such joists shall, under calculated loads, have a deflec- tion exceeding 1-360 of the span.
Flange widths of joists more than five inches deep shall not exceed one-half the depth of the joists.
The allowable unit fibre stress shall not exceed 16,000 lbs. Splicing of such joists is prohibited.
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No such joists shall be spaced more than 24 inches on cen- ters, they shall be bridged with tension bridging every six feet (or less), depending on the width of the compression flange, measured along the length of the joists, and shall be held in a taut condition both at the top and bottom of each joist. The material for such bridging shall be at least equal in strength to No. 12 gauge wire. When such wire is so used it shall be galvanized.
Such joists shall have a bearing of not less than four in- ches on concrete or masonry walls, and not less than 21/2 inches when bearing on steel beams or other steel members.
Steel entering into fabrication shall be painted one coat of steel preservative paint before leaving the factory, and paint- ed once after being set in place.
Wherever such joists are permitted to be used under the provisions of this section, metal lath weighing not less than four pounds per square yard shall be firmly secured to the top, and 3.4 pounds metal lath to the bottom of all such joists.
The top layer of floor lath shall be covered with Portland cement concrete at least two inches thick over the entire floor area. All such concrete shall be of such quality that its crush- ing strength at the age of 30 days shall be not less than 2,000 pounds per square inch.
The bottom layer or ceiling lath shall be covered with at least two coats of cement plastering at least seven-eighths of an inch thick, of a mixture of one part Portland cement, and not to exceed two parts sand, to which may be added 10 pounds of lime putty to each bag of Portland cement for the scratch coat only.
(7) Cast Iron. Cast iron for all structural work in build- ings shall conform to the requirements of the Standard Speci- fications for medium gray iron castings of the American So- ciety for testing materials as from time to time revised.
CHAPTER XIV. REINFORCED CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION.
(1) Composition. Re-inforced concrete shall mean an ap- proved mixture of Portland cement, water and fine and course aggregate, reinforced by steel.
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All reinforced concrete slabs and beams shall be made of a concrete composed of one part Portland cement, two parts sand and four parts crushed stone or screened gravel. The minimum requirements for all other reinforced concrete shall be one part Portland cement, 21/2 parts sand and 5 parts crush- ed stone or screened gravel.
Steel for reinforcement shall conform to the standard specifications for steel re-inforcement bars of the American Society for testing materials, as from time to time revised. It shall be free from mill scale and loose rust and shall not be coated in such manner as to weaken the bond.
The ingredients shall be thoroughly mixed and the mixing shall continue until the cement is thoroughly distributed and the mass is uniform in color. The consistency shall be such that the concrete will flow freely about and entirely enclose the reinforcement but shall not be so wet as to cause separa- tion of the ingredients in handling.
(2) Inspection. The Inspector of Buildings may require an applicant for a permit for plain or reinforced concrete to have, at his own expense, a competent inspector satisfactory to the Inspector of Buildings at all times on the work while concrete is being mixed or deposited, and such inspector shall make daily reports to the Inspector of Buildings on the pro- gress of the work.
(3) Forms. Forms shall be sufficiently tight to prevent any considerable loss of material in the pouring.
(4) Placing. Concrete shall be used immediately after mixing, it shall not be placed in the work after it has begun to harden, and it shall be deposited in such manner and under such regulations as to secure a compact mass of the best quali- ty for the proportions used. Forms shall remain until the concrete has hardened sufficiently to carry its load safely, and shall be removed without damage to the concrete.
Concrete shall not be deposited in forms until the reinforce- ment has been put in place and secured against displacement.
Columns shall be poured without any interruption to the bottom side of beams or girders which they support, or to the
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bottom of the flare in flat slab construction. Special care shall be taken in their pouring that no voids may result.
Columns and walls shall be poured not less than three hours in advance of the beams, girders, or slabs which they support. All columns of the same type in a story shall be of concrete mixed in the same proportions.
Structural slabs shall be poured the full thickness at time of pouring floor.
Proper precaution shall be taken in stopping concrete work to stop it at the points of low shear.
When fresh concrete is exposed to a hot or dry atmosphere or wind, special precautions to prevent premature drying shall be taken.
Concrete shall not be deposited when the temperature is below 32 degrees F., unless adequate precautions are taken to prevent freezing.
(5) Protection and Spacing of Re-inforcing.
Main reinforcement in floor slabs shall be protected by a minimum of three fourths of an inch concrete; in beams, gir- ders, columns and walls by 11/2 inches from the surface of the concrete to the surface of the main reinforcement.
In columns the outer 11/2 inches of concrete shall be regard- ed as fire-proofing which shall be assumed to carry no stress.
In foundation and retaining walls the steel shall be protect- ed, and on the side toward the earth or water by a minimum of three inches of concrete.
Slab reinforcement bars in tension shall be not farther apart horizontally than two and one-half times the total thick- ness of the slab. In beams and girders the lateral spacing of parallel bars shall be not less than three diameters from center to center, and clear space between two layers of bars shall be not less than one inch.
(6) Bases for Design. Calculations shall be made with reference to working stresses and safe loads rather than with reference to ultimate strength and ultimate loads.
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CHAPTER XV. OPENINGS.
(1) Elevator Shafts. All elevator shafts hereafter built extending through more than two stories, except passenger elevators placed in enclosures or hallways that are continuous and unbroken, shall be enclosed in partitions that are fireproof. They shall be built of brick or concrete at least eight inches thick, of re-inforced concrete at least six inches thick, or four inch terra cotta; or of any other materials approved by the Inspector of Buildings.
(2) Hoists, Dumb Waiters and Vent Shafts extending through more than two stories, shall be enclosed in fire proof partitions ; they shall be of brick or concrete not less than four inches thick, of solid cement plaster not less than two inches thick, or of any other materials approved by the Inspector of Buildings.
(3) Openings of Fire Escapes. When fire doors or shut- ters are used on exterior openings leading to fire escapes or exterior exits, they shall be so arranged as not to obstruct such fire escapes or exits.
CHAPTER XVI. FLOORS AND ROOFS.
(1) In first class construction the filling between steel floor and roof beams shall consist of arches or slabs of brick, terra cotta or concrete, or such other material as may be ap- proved by the Inspector of Buildings.
(2) Suspended Ceilings. Metal lath and cement plaster ceilings shall be supported by hangers or clamps attached to the floor or roof construction in a substantial manner.
(3) Roof Coverings.
Materials. All buildings, except as given below, shall have roof coverings of approved standard quality such as brick, concrete, tile or slate, or highest grade tin roofing, or asbestos shingles, or of built-up roofing felt with gravel or slag surface, or of built-up asbestos roofing.
Exceptions :
(1) Dwellings.
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(2) Frame Buildings.
(3) Buildings not exceeding two stories of 30 feet in height and 2,500 square feet in area, and not used for factories, ware- houses, or mercantile purposes.
Quality. The roofing for all dwellings and other structures exempted in above paragraph shall be of materials of a grade not lower than Class C of the Underwriters Laboratories or such equivalent materials as the Inspector of Buildings may authorize. For use on piazza or porch roofs of an area not exceeding 250 square feet canvas properly painted will be considered Class C roof.
(4) Cornices and Gutters.
Leaders. All buildings shall be kept provided with proper metallic leaders for conducting water from the roofs in such a manner as shall protect the walls and foundations from injury. In no case shall the water from said leaders be allowed to flow upon the sidewalk, and no part of any roof shall be constructed in such a manner as to discharge water, snow, ice, or other material upon a public street or alley.
(5) .Skylights.
(a) Construction. All skylights hereafter placed in any building shall have sashes and frames of metal.
(b) Shafts. No wired glass shall be placed in a skylight at the top of enclosure for elevators, stairways, dumb waiters, vent and light shafts, or over a theatre stage; all such sky- lights shall be glazed with thin glass and shall be protected by galvanized wire screens. The mesh of such screens shall not exceed one inch, and the wire shall be of a size not less than 12 gauge. All screens shall have substantial metal supports and shall be placed at least six inches above skylights and pro- ject six inches beyond edges of skylights.
(c) Louvres. When metal louvres are used for ventilating purposes over shafts or in connection with skylights, the louvres or slats shall be riveted or welded to a metal frame.
(d) Windows. Instead of a skylight over a shaft, a win- dow of equivalent area may be placed in the side of the shaft
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above the roof which is farthest removed from a property line. -
(6) Pent House.
Definition. The term pent house includes all enclosed struc- tures not more than 12 feet high above the roof of any part of a building.
Every building except one, two or three family dwellings shall have on its roof a scuttle or pent house with a door lead- ing to the roof. Scuttle shall be hinged so it may be easily) opened.
Every scuttle or pent house shall have a permanent set of stairs leading to same, and free and clear of all obstructions. Ladders may be substituted for stairs when authorized by the Inspector of Buildings.
(7) Tanks.
(a) Supports. Tanks containing more than 500 gallons of water or other fluid hereafter placed in any story, or on the roof, or above the roof of any building shall be supported on iron or steel beams of sufficient strength to safely carry the same; and the beams shall rest on brick walls, or on iron or steel girders, or iron or steel columns, or piers of masonry.
(b) Emergency Outlet. Underneath any tank or on the side near the bottom of the same, there shall be an outlet not less than four inches in diameter, fitted with a suitable gag gate valve to permit ready drainage of tank in case of neces- sity.
(c) Covers. Covers on top of water tanks placed on roofs, if of wood, shall be covered with approved incombustible material. Hoops of wooden tanks shall be of metal with cir- cular or elliptical cross section.
CHAPTER XVII. FIRE STOPPING, ETC.
(1) Every 2nd class building hereafter erected shall be thoroughly fire-stopped at each floor and at the stairs in ac- cordance with the instructions of the Inspector of Buildings, with masonry fire-stopping.
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(2) Every 3rd class building hereafter erected shall be thoroughly fire-stopped at each floor level including the ledger if any, and at the stairs with a fire-stopping not less than 2 inches thick, and satisfactory to the Inspector of Buildings.
(3) Ducts. Ducts, chases, or shafts for wires, cables or similar purposes, shall be fire-stopped at each floor level un- less completely enclosed in partitions.
Shaving Pits. Shaving Pits in all factories where wood working machinery is used shall be constructed of brick, stone, concrete or other incombustible material, and if adjacent to a boiler room shall be separated from it by standard automatic fire doors. All chutes leading to shaving pits shall be of metal.
Imitation Fireplaces intended for use with electricity and not having a flue shall be constructed throughout, including the hearth, of approved fireproof material at least two inches thick.
(6) Stairs. The space between stair carriages shall be fire-stopped at least one in the middle portion of each run.
(7) Sliding Doors. When sliding doors are pocketed in partitions, the pockets shall be completely fire-stopped at top and bottom.
(8) Chimneys. The space around chimneys shall be fire- stopped at each floor level as may be required by the Inspector of Buildings.
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